How to: Clean Hair brushes

I have been meaning to post this post for a while. Today I finally got a chance to take some pics and write about it. This is the first of the How To series. If you like it, please let me know so I can do more.

Everyone has this problem, once you have a hair brush it gets dirty and cleaning it is a mess in itself. Here are a few steps I followed which made it easy for me. In this post, I am using my oval cushion brush from Revlon. I love this brush, it adds shine to my hair and when it became dirty, I felt sad not knowing how to clean it. I could get almost all of the hair out, but the dirt on the bristles was another issue.

Here are the things needed:
Yep, you need a hair brush first. 🙂 This method can be used to all the hairbrushes (as far as I can say). I have tried it with my flat comb too. It’s easy and little to no effort. The second thing you need is dish washing detergent or a shampoo. I used Dawn dish washing foam, for my first trial as I thought it would get the dirt as well as oils out of the brush. The third thing you need is an old toothbrush. The last and important thing is a bowl of warm water or a sink. I used a sink.

Steps to follow:
Even though I did not get to grab a pic, first and foremost you need to get all the hair trapped in the brush, out. I used toothpicks, scissors anything small and flat that can get through the bristles to the base of the comb. Get all the hair out. Then follow these steps.
Step 1: Fill up your sink or bowl with hot water and add some drops of Dawn or Shampoo to it. Dip your hair brush and toothbrush in and start scrubbing. (I applied some of the Dawn foam as a toothpaste to the toothbrush and then, brushed through the bristles). I brushed for a good 5 minutes in every angle possible and tried to reach every nook and corner of the bristles (This was my first time and I wanted to be thorough)
Step 2: Leave your brush in the sink/bowl for 10 min.
Step 3: Take the brush out, rinse it in clean water and dry it out an a clean towel. I used a paper towel. Let it dry overnight. (time to dry may be more or less depending on the type of hair brushes/combs)

Result:
Next morning, Tada!!! My brush was back to its former glory. I was so happy to see it clean and shiny.

Yep, my brush was really dirty as you can see in the picture, and I was using its substitute for a while now. So, I can use my old brush while I get the new one cleaned. That’s the way to do it, don’t you think?

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I’m a hairdresser, and I have lots of dirty brushes to deal with. Don’t want to gross anybody out, but after removing as much hair as possible, I throw them in the washing machine with my shop towels. Perfectly clean!!

I have always washed mine in with my white clothes so they get bleached too. My mother did this when I was a small child, I’m still using the same Modern Method hair brush for 30 years, so I know it will not harm it. I don’t think they make this brush any more, if anyone knows if they are still made let me know. It was a simular company like Stanley or Fuller brush company.

Yup; that’s the way my mom taught me years ago. She would pour some ammonia into really hot water in the sink. Soak while cleaning either taking a bath or cleaning the bathroom, rinse, pat dry onto towel upside down so most of water comes out from around the base of the bristles, then I dry them quickly using a blow dryer for a few short minutes.

yes it is still around and really cheap! I put it on rags and disperse around the outside of the house as skunk repellent! they don’t like the smell either so it actually works and is way cheaper than dehydrated fox urine

I fought with a brush for two days soaking it in Dawn and baking soda to no avail.. as I use a hairspray while brushing(I spray the brush first, then brush hair) and it caked the dirt at the bottom of the bristles and no matter what I tried, it would not let go. I used a toothbrush, hairpins, the end of a tease comb to lift the stuff off and then I tried another brush to rub it off. After a few days I took the nasty brush into the shower and with a shampoo in both brushes..it gave and washed out. I was so happy, I could keep my favorite brush. My resolve is..take the brush into the shower at the end of each day and give it a good workout.

These are good solutions, but, I’m just, how should I say it..I got it…too lazy for anything more than getting it done as painlessly as possible. I’m also known as the recycle police in my house, so when there’s a run in my (always once worn) pantyhose, I cut a piece large enough to go around the hair brush and secure it over the bristles. When it’s time, I remove the hose toss it and I’m done.

I use a salad fork to remove the hair from my brush. While I am showering and washing my hair, I add some shampoo to the brush and rub my fingers along the bristles and make it very sudsy. Then rinse well. My brush is always clean and it gets rid of any dirt in or around my fingernails at the same time. I use a porcupine brush with two types of bristle and I have found this to work better than anything else to keep it clean. I used to soak it in vinegar and scrub it as you suggested in the sink with soap, water and a toothbrush, but doing it while I shower is quicker, easier and a more efficient use of my time.

I find using the brush used to apply hair dye the best and least awkward. The length of the bristles get easily inbetween the hair brush bristles and the pointy end can be used to get the hair out of it first.

I’ve always poured some ammonia into the sink, add some hot water and let the combs and brushes soak for about an hour. Then rinse and air dry on a towel. No scrubbing necessary. My mother used to do this.

What is an easy way to get the lint, at least that’s what it looks like, from the brush? I clean the hair out every time I use it, but there seems to be some lint-like material at the bottom of the bristles. I have been using tweezers and scissors to get it out, but there has to be another way.

I have a couple of similar brushes. Before I wash my hair, I clean out the trapped hair (easy to do if done regularly), spray the bristle area with “Scrubbing Bubbles,” and let it sit bristle side down (so none of the product seeps beneath the rubber housing) until I’m finished with my shower. Then I just rinse the brush and it’s clean. Have brushes I’ve used for years and cleaned by this method…always have a clean brush for my clean hair!

I soak my wood brushes with no problems. I also use white vinegar along with shampoo and baking soda to clean my boar bristles brushes. Wet brush, sprinkle with baking soda, and pour about 1/4 teaspoon, upto 1 teaspoon white vinegar over baking soda. Let sit 15 minutes then use old toothbrush and scrub clean. Rinse and if you want to, use shampoo to be sure baking soda is cleaned away. Come out clean with less scrubbing.

I put my brushes in the sink with hot water and dawn dishwashing liquid after getting as much hair out as I can, then I let them set and soak while I do other things. When I go back, I just rinse and dry. Perfectly clean!

I’ve been a hairdresser for over 40 years and the makers of the cushion brushes like the one pictured always said not to immerse totally. The bristles are glued and they will be loosened. My mother thoughtfully cleaned my son’s, when he brushed his hair the bristles sunk into the cushion.lol

After you clean your brush, wrap 4-6 rubber bands around the head. The rubber bands will be under the hair that accumulates in the brush, so you just grab them from the back to pull the hair out. No more toothpicks/paperclips/other tedious diggers. 🙂

I haven’t read through all the other replies but if you remove all the hair from the brush and then just let the brush soak in a mixture of hot/warm water with a little ammonia. Rinse and air dry. That gets it pretty clean.

Hi, I have a Mason Pearson hair brush, I got for Christmas. It is quite expensive , and I really want to take goodcare of it but on the manual, it says not to put water on it. Please can anyone help me?! Thank you

Use a hair pick to remove hair from brush. Almost lay the pick down and run it across straight rows. It will get all the hair out. I do it after every time I brush my hair.
Follow washing instructions to clean brush.

Great minds think alike! I just never thought to share it with anyone. Good job! I’ve been using this method for decades. Dawn is a good idea, I’ve always used shampoo. I use my comb to get the hair out of the brush. At first I comb it through like you would expect, but then I use the comb perpendicular to the brush to get the stubborn ones out.

I always removed hair from the brush every time I brushed my hair. I tend to leave the brush in the sink with warm water with shampoo to rinse it off. It worked!!! I can’t stand to see brush with hair on it.

Ladies, the main thing is that they’re clean…..guys should try this (cleaning your brushes and combs). When dry and ready to use again, spray a little of your favorite cologne or perfume on the bristles….makes that stuff go much farther! Use with no scent hair spray. Dampen brush daily to invigorate the scent right before brushing.